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Friday, December 23, 2011

Margaret Virginia

I don't know what you guys have been up to this holiday season, but Iiiii've been having a baby. And I have the pictures to prove it!

Tuesday, December 6, 2012-- 8am

(Look at that happy idiot! She has NO idea what she's in for!)

12:05 pm
Tada!

I had seen my doctor the day before, and she said enough was enough!, stripped my membranes, and scheduled me for an induction the next morning. Because of my history, and a few complications with this pregnancy, my docs had recommended that I not carry past 37 weeks, so I was quite thrilled to have made it to 39.5 weeks before they really put their foot down. I'd also been walking around at 3cm dilated for the past few weeks, and Maggie's growth ultrasound looked good, so we felt pretty ready.

Our biggest goal, other than a healthy baby (duh) was to avoid a c-section this time around, so despite the fact that I'd need to be on an IV (for pitocin) and attached to fetal monitors throughout labor, I wanted to avoid as many interventions as possible and go as 'natural' as you can go... with a VBAC induction that is.

My mom came down the night before to stay with Henry and David I left bright & early Tuesday morning for the hospital. It was a hiiiiighly effective induction. 8 lb 12 oz Maggie was born about 3 1/2 hours after starting the Pitocin drip. Labor was super-de-duper fast, and I think I'd describe it best by saying that it was like careening wildly down a hill in a car with no brakes. But, at the bottom of the hill, after you crash, you get a BABY!

Totally worth it, eh?

Henry sure thinks so.

My midwife & nurses were amazing, and I am incredibly thankful to have a healthy baby girl, to have avoided a c-section, and to have survived unmedicated childbirth. If you want the gory details of the birth story, you have only to ask. But, I'm gonna keep it PG rated here. :)

Maggie is a faaaaaabulous baby girl, nursing like gangbusters, sleeping like a miracle, and generally adored by all her fans.

Henry LOVES his baby sister and showers her with kisses, hugs, and toys that are wildly age-inappropriate for her. He also calls her 'Baby Sister' which I would like to continue for... ever.

I am figuring out how to parent a newborn and a toddler... slowly... sort of... is it even possible?? And, basically, that is ALL I am doing. Whiiiich is why its taken me two and half weeks to post any pictures or updates. I'm not even going to apologize for it- I'm impressed with myself that I take a shower most days.

And, David... well, basically he's holding us all together. Picking up allll the slack for me, and saying really encouraging things that I'm pretty sure are lies, but I can't really tell through the post-partum hormone haze, so I'm just choosing to believe him. :)

So, Merry Christmas friends! We love you, and as soon as we get a handle on life again (and by we, I mean ME) we hope to catch up with all of you!

Congratulations! I was wondering whether you'd had your baby yet. Fabulous, love hearing about a successful VBAC (and in 3.5 hours, too, eeeek! I did the whole dilating 5-cm-in-an-hour thing without an epi, it's not fun but totally worth it as soon as you see your baby!). Did you birth at DePaul? I'm happy for your little family. Hope you guys have a beautiful Christmas.

congratulations, Rachel! As always, your writing captures so much emotion and really - the exact experience - completely. :) So glad Maggie is treating you right and Henry is enjoying a little sister. Merry Christmas, friend!

Wowzers- congrats!! I'm a little partial towards having sweet baby girls in December- glad you got your wish for a successful VBAC! Miss Maggie looks adorable- as I knew she would! Enjoy the chaos of having 2 so close in age- it does get better!!

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Hiya! Thanks for visiting today. Everything you see on "have baby must blog?" is written by me, Rachel Williamson, and is protected by a Creative Commons License. You're welcome to copy, share, and quote all written content as long as you link back to me. Pictures of my kids, however, are not for copying or sharing. Happy Interneting!